Shloka 26

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

गरुडक्षतवाहश् च प्रद्युम्नास्त्रनिपीडितः कृष्णहुंकारनिर्धूतशक्तिश् चापययौ गुहः

Transliteration

garuḍakṣatavāhaś ca pradyumnāstranipīḍitaḥ kṛṣṇahuṃkāranirdhūtaśaktiś cāpayayau guhaḥ

Translation

And Guha—his mount scarred by Garuḍa, crushed by Pradyumna’s weapon, and his spear-force shaken off and scattered by Kṛṣṇa’s thunderous battle-cry—turned back and fled the field.

Word by Word

• गरुड-क्षत-वाहः: (he) whose mount was wounded by Garuḍa
• गरुड-क्षत-वाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (गरुडेन क्षतः वाहः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• प्रद्युम्न-अस्त्र-निपीडितः: crushed/pressed by Pradyumna’s weapon
• प्रद्युम्न-अस्त्र-निपीडितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नि-पीड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय) ‘निपीडित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (प्रद्युम्नास्त्रेण निपीडितः)

• कृष्ण-हुंकार-निर्धूत-शक्तिः: (he) whose spear/energy was shaken off by Kṛṣṇa’s roar
• कृष्ण-हुंकार-निर्धूत-शक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + हुंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्-धू (धातु) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णस्य हुंकारेण निर्धूता शक्तिः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• अपययौ: withdrew / went away
• अपययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परिपूर्णभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• गुहः: Guha (Kārttikeya)
• गुहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa and his allies rout Bāṇa’s commanders, removing immediate threats to the Yādavas and clearing the path to subdue Bāṇa.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of the Vṛṣṇis and reestablishment of righteous order against violent resistance

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Pradyumna
• Krishna
• Guha

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna’s huṃkāra (battle-cry) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse Krishna’s mere roar disperses an enemy’s śakti (weapon-force), highlighting that divine sovereignty can neutralize violence without equal retaliation—Krishna’s presence itself overrules adharma.

How does Sage Parāśara present Pradyumna’s role in Krishna’s battles?

Parāśara depicts Pradyumna as a decisive divine ally whose astras can “press down” opponents, underscoring the protective power of Krishna’s family in safeguarding dharma.

What is the theological importance of Garuḍa being mentioned in this combat context?

Garuḍa functions as Vishnu’s invincible standard; even the mark of being ‘scarred by Garuḍa’ signals that the opponent has already met the overwhelming force aligned with the Supreme (Vishnu-Krishna).